Constitution of
Worldwide Energy University Network
Chapter 1. General Facts about WEUN
1.1 Worldwide Energy University Network (hereafter referred to as WEUN) is a non-legally binding voluntary membership organization of research universities, brought together by a shared strategic interest in research, innovation, education and internationalization in the field of energy. WEUN was established at a conference on the 22nd September 2018 in Beijing initiated by its founder China University of Petroleum-Beijing (CUPB), through the representatives of its first cohort of 28 founding member universities.
1.2 The name of the network in Chinese is: 世界能源大学联盟
The name of the network in English is: Worldwide Energy University Network (WEUN).
1.3 Activities of WEUN are conducted within the range of this Constitution, and in accordance with all applicable international laws, and the laws and regulations of the countries where each WEUN member operates.
1.4 WEUN is chaired by a chairing member university for a 4-year renewable term on a rotation basis. The current chairing institution is CUPB, and the locations of the WEUN Secretariat is in China University of Petroleum-Beijing, located in No. 18 Fuxue Road, Changping District, Beijing, China, 102249.
Chapter 2. The Purpose
2.1 The primary purpose of WEUN is to create a worldwide platform for communication and collaboration among and between the WEUN member universities in research, innovation and education in the field of energy.
2.2 The main objectives of WEUN include, but not limited to, the following:
2.2.1 To build a platform for the exchange of educational information, best practices and academic resources on energy-related issues.
2.2.2 To leverage access to expertise and facilities and collaborate on basic and applied research in the field of energy, and to setup joint labs or centers as interests grow.
2.2.3 To support energy-related international cooperation in joint degree education, student and faculty exchange, summer courses or schools, and training programs.
2.2.4 To help member universities within the countries of member universities to improve their visibility and recognition and enhance their prestige in those countries.
2.2.5 To organize academic conferences or seminars to address challenges facing the energy world and energy education.
Chapter 3. WEUN Membership and Rights & Responsibilities
3.1 Membership in WEUN is voluntary and does not affect the independent autonomy of WEUN members, including the right to enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements with any third-party institution.
3.2 WEUN is open to all institutions of higher learning with research and teaching programs in energy, who agree with this Constitution and agree to the purpose and objectives of WEUN.
3.3 Membership to WEUN occurs through application to the WEUN Secretariat, which will process the applications and make a decision, by a simple majority vote of Member Representatives to the Secretariat, within six months since submission of an application.
3.4 Any new member acceptance will be reported to the Chairman of the General Assembly.
3.5 WEUN members reserve the right to resign from WEUN by providing a 3-month notice of intention to do so in writing to the President and Secretary General of the WEUN Secretariat.
3.6 WEUN Secretariat has the authority to remove inactive members. Application for re-admission requires re-fulfillment of the procedures.
3.7 Membership in WEUN implies commitment to the spirit of collaboration as envisaged in the Constitution of the WEUN.
Chapter 4. WEUN Guidance and Administration Structure
The guiding and administrating bodies of WEUN are the General Assembly and the Secretariat.
4.1 General Assembly
4.1.1 WEUN General Assembly is the highest decision-making body and meets every four years.
4.1.2 The General Assembly is supervised by a Chairman and Vice Chairmen representing each member institution. The Chairman of the General Assembly is usually the president of the chairing institution.
4.1.3 Unless otherwise stated, a resolution of WEUN is passed by a simple majority vote of the General Assembly members.
4.1.4 During adjournment of the General Assembly of WEUN, the WEUN leadership function is carried out by the WEUN Secretariat.
4.2 Membership in the General Assembly:
4.2.1 Presidents of member universities or representatives authorized by the presidents are members of the General Assembly as the Chairman from the chairing WEUN member and Vice Chairmen from other WEUN members.
4.2.2 Each WEUN General Assembly member is entitled to one vote in General Assembly resolutions.
4.2.3 One term of the Chairman and Vice Chairmen is 4 years and is renewable. When a member of General Assembly changes his/her position and can no longer represents his/her university in WEUN, a new member is nominated by the member university within a reasonable period of time.
4.3 Responsibilities of the General Assembly:
4.3.1 To make decisions on main strategic goals of WEUN, and approve this Constitution and modifications to the Constitution, four-year plans, any policy statements or positions.
4.3.2 To elect and approve the Chairing institution of WEUN.
4.4 Responsibilities of the Chairman of the General Assembly
4.4.1 To convene and chair the General Assembly
4.4.2 To propose and call for additional General Assembly meetings outside the regular schedule.
4.4.3 To nominate the President, Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General for the Secretariat.
4.4.4 To supervise the administration and operation of the Secretariat.
4.5 Responsibilities of Vice Chairmen of the General Assembly
4.5.1 To attend the General Assembly meetings.
4.5.2 To supervise the Member Representative for his/her university to the Secretariat.
4.6 Secretariat and its Membership
4.6.1 In addition to the Secretariat President, Secretary General and deputy Secretary General, members of the Secretariat are also composed of the Member Representatives, one from each member institution and nominated by member institution presidents, who are responsible for routine management and implementation of WEUN work in his/her institution.
4.6.2 The Secretariat is administrated by the President, Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General, and the Member Representatives to the Secretariat. Generally, the President, Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General are from the chairing institution and are nominated by the Chairman of the WEUN General Assembly for a 4-year term. All the Member Representatives to the Secretariat represent each member university for a 4-year term.
4.6.3 WEUN Secretariat members meet every two years and extra meetings are organized with the approval of the Secretariat President. Extra meetings can be in person or by conference call. A resolution passed by a simply majority vote of the Secretariat members is valid.
4.6.4 Each member nominates a correspondent and all communications will be validly addressed to this correspondent.
4.7 Responsibilities of the Secretariat:
4.7.1 To give effect to the decisions of the General Assembly, to report the activities in the preceding year and to propose annual program to the Chairman of the General Assembly, to implement the annual program, and to organize, operate and assess each activity of WEUN.
4.7.2 To accept and process membership applications.
4.7.3 To take leading responsibilities during adjournment of the General Assembly.
4.7.4 To propose resource requirements and deal with administration documents related to the operation and management of WEUN to the Chairman of the General Assembly.
4.7.5 To make recommendations to the General Assembly as to the chairing institution when the acting chairing institution finishes its 4-year term or is to be changed for other reasons.
4.7.6 To write and submit the WEUN annual report to the Chairman of the General Assembly.
4.7.7 To propose and set up special committees.
4.7.7.1 One member of the Secretariat can serve for more than one committee, and special committee Chairs are elected by simple majority vote of Secretariat members.
4.7.8 To remove a WEUN member as stated in 3.6.
4.7.9 To manage all the routine work of WEUN under the supervision of the President.
4.7.10 To be the main contact office for all communications among the WEUN members.
4.8 Responsibilities of the President
4.8.1 To convene and chair the WEUN Secretariat meetings.
4.8.2 To call for and chair extra Secretariat meetings when necessary.
4.8.3 To supervise the Secretariat.
4.9 The responsibilities of Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General:
4.9.1 To manage the WEUN Secretariat to handle routine matters of the General Assembly and Secretariat.
4.9.2 To implement the plans and operate programs of WEUN approved by the General Assembly.
4.10 Responsibilities of Member Representatives to WEUN Secretariat
4.10.1 To attend the Secretariat meetings and implement the plan of WEUN within their home universities.
4.10.2 To publish and coordinate WEUN programs in their home universities.
4.10.3 To discover resources to enrich the activities of WEUN and foster its development.
4.10.4 To make good proposals for WEUN activities to the Secretariat.
4.10.5 To be the main coordinators representing their home universities in all WEUN affairs.
Chapter 5. Budget
5.1 The daily running expenses of the WEUN Secretariat is borne from the chairing institution.
5.2 There is no imposed obligation on any other member to provide funds to support WEUN administration.
Chapter 6. The Legal Status of WEUN
6.1 WEUN is a non-legally binding voluntary network as stated in 1.1.
6.2 Neither the Declaration of Worldwide Energy University Network (signed on September 22, 2018) nor the Constitution of Worldwide Energy University Network create a legal relationship among WEUN members. Any legal relationship required among members for joint research or education, non-disclosure or confidentiality, or protection of intellectual property, joint venture, will be the subject of separate legal agreements between contracting parties under agreed legal jurisdiction.
6.3 This Constitution does not intend to create a partnership, agency, joint venture or any other form of legal relationship where one member may be liable for debts or obligations of the other or represents the other without authorization.
Chapter 7. Reorganization, Termination of WEUN and Others
7.1 WEUN can be reorganized or terminated according to the resolution of the General Assembly. Decisions to reorganize or terminate WEUN must be ratified by a two-thirds majority of General Assembly members.
7.2 If the WEUN is terminated, the activities of WEUN and the Secretariat will be wound down in an efficient and reasonable manner.
7.3 Any disagreement or conflict, caused by participating the WEUN affairs, between or among member universities, will be solved via friendly negotiation. Serious and irreconcilable disagreements or conflicts will be addressed to the Chairman or the General Assembly.
7.4 This Constitution will come into force after it is signed by members.
